Distributor puller with adjustable fulcrum means



1963 R. M. BLACKSTONE 3,110,959

DISTRIBUTOR FULLER WITH ADJUSTABLE FULCRUM MEANS Filed July 16, 1962 iHlIl INVENTOR ROBERT BLACKSTONE ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofihce Patented Nov. 19, 1963 3,110,959 DISTRIBUTDR PULLER WITH ADJUSTABLE FULCRUM MEANS Robert M. Blackstone, 4 108 Delray Ave., Orlando, Fla. Filed July 16, 1962, Ser. No. 209,967 3 Claims. (Cl. 29-267) This invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to apparatus by means of Which components of such engines such as the distributor may be easily removed.

In an internal combustion engine the distributor assembly is mounted in relatively close proximity to the body of the engine and after a period of use and because of the inherent nature of the materials and the closeness of fit there is difficulty in separating the distributor from the body of the engine.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a puller or leverage instrument adjustable to various sizes and kinds of internal combustion engines by means of which the distributor or other component may be easily removed despite the tightness of fit and without injury thereto.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective of apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the lower portion; and

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner of usage.

Briefly stated, the invention includes a pair of spaced side bars joined at one end to form a handle and at the other end having laterally disposed foot members between Which a plate is mounted which receives an adjustable lug by means of which the fulcrum point may be positioned to suit a particular job.

Although the present invention is adapted for removing various components from engines and the like, it is especially useful in removing the distributor from a Ford V-8 engine. The distributor base in such engines is formed of aluminum and the same tends, after a period of use, to weld or seize to the cast iron block of the engine, thereby making separation of the two diiiicult. Attempts to separate the two with improper tools has resulted in damage, including breaking of the distributor,

- this having been an especial problem during approximately the past decade.

With further reference to the drawing, there is illustrated fragmentarily an engine block E of the V-8 type, having a distributor D mounted on the upper portion, the distributor having a base with a cylindrical neck D which engages the block. Due to the neck D being formed of a material such as aluminum and the block being formed of cast iron, there is a tendency for the neck to become welded to the block at the point where they are connected. Due to the smallness of the space bv' neath the head of the distributor, difficulty is experienced in applying adequate force or leverage thereto to remove the same from the engine block.

The present invention contemplates a lifting tool or puller having a pair of spaced side bar members 10 which are inclined inwardly and joined at an end 11 to form a handle. At the other end spaced foot members 12 and 12 are connected, as by Welding, outwardly of the bar members 10. In order to rigidly maintain the foot members 12 and 12 in spaced relation and to provide a point for a fulcrum member, a strut 13 is mounted on the foot members 12 and 12' adjacent to their connection with the side members 10, leaving the outer ends of the foot members 12 and 12 projecting therefrom. A lug or bolt 15 projects through a threaded opening 16 centrally of the strut 13 and has a head 17 by means of which it may be adjusted.

In the use of the device the foot members 12 and 12' are positioned on either side of the neck D of the distributor and the lug 15 is adjusted to engage the head most advantageously for applying leverage to the distributor. Because of the shortness of the lever arm from lug 15 to the point of engagement of the free ends of the foot members 12 and 12' with the neck D, as compared to the length of the arms 10, a very considerable mechanical advantage is achieved, thereby fiacilitating the removal of a tightly attached distributor from the engine block.

The device is easy and simple to construct and yet is sturdy and adaptable for a variety of situations.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing(s) and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A distributor puller for removing a distributor from an engineblock, comprising spaced parallel relatively fiat bars of substantial length connected at one end to form a handle, foot members connected to the outer sides of the spaced remote ends of said bars, said foot members being oppositely disposed and parallel and extending transversely from said bars, said foot members being relatively short compared to the length of said bars, a strut extending across said foot members adjacent to their connection with said bars and leaving a substantial length of the free ends of said foot members unconnected, and a lug extending through said strut substantially parallel with said bars, said lug threadedly engaged with said strut and having means on the portion extending above said foot members for applying a rotative force thereto, whereby said foot members may engage said distributor and said lug may be adjusted to engage said block, whereby leverage may be applied to move said distributor away from said block.

2. A distributor puller comprising a pair of spaced parallel bars of substantial length having connected contiguous portions at one end providing a handle, foot members transversely connected on the outer sides of the remote ends of said bars, said foot members: extending therefrom in parallel oppositely disposed spaced relation, a strut mounted between said foot members, said foot members having free ends projecting beyond said strut and adapted to engage the sides of a distributor, and a lug threadedly engaged with said strut and extending transversely thereto and adapted to engage the block of the engine on which the distributor is mounted and provide a fulcrum, the distance from said lug to the free ends of the foot members being relatively small as compared to the length of the arms.

3. A distributor puller comprising a body of substantial length having a handle at one end and a transversely extending foot at the opposite end, said foot having spaced generally parallel members adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of a distributor, transversely adjustable means carried by at least one of said members for engaging a support on which the distributor is mounted and providing a fulcrum, the distance from said adjustable means to the free ends of said spaced parallel portions being relatively small as compared to the length of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A DISTRIBUTOR PULLER FOR REMOVING A DISTRIBUTOR FROM AN ENGINE BLOCK, COMPRISING SPACED PARALLEL RELATIVELY FLAT BARS OF SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH CONNECTED AT ONE END TO FORM A HANDLE, FOOT MEMBERS CONNECTED TO THE OUTER SIDES OF THE SPACED REMOTE ENDS OF SAID BARS, SAID FOOT MEMBERS BEING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED AND PARALLEL AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM SAID BARS, SAID FOOT MEMBERS BEING RELATIVELY SHORT COMPARED TO THE LENGTH OF SAID BARS, A STRUT EXTENDING ACROSS SAID FOOT MEMBERS ADJACENT TO THEIR CONNECTION WITH SAID BARS AND LEAVING A SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH OF THE FREE ENDS OF SAID FOOT MEMBERS UNCONNECTED, AND A LUG EXTENDING THROUGH SAID STRUT SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID BARS, SAID LUG THREADEDLY ENGAGED WITH SAID STRUT AND HAVING MEANS ON THE PORTION EXTENDING ABOVE SAID 